Abstract: C1.00045 : MALDI-ToF Analysis of Model Copolymer Blends

Authors:

David Pan(Xerox Corporation)

Mark Arnould(Xerox Corporation)

MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry was used to determine the composition of a low
MW styrene (S) / n-butyl acrylate (nBA) copolymer. Bernoullian chain
statistics were used to predict the copolymer distribution and confirm that
MALDI-ToF detects the correct composition. The copolymer was blended with a
low MW polystyrene homopolymer having the same end group as the copolymer at
several levels to determine if MALDI-ToF could be used to calculate the
amount of homopolymer by subtracting homopolymer peak areas. It is found
that, while MALDI-ToF can be used to monitor the amount of homopolymer
blended into the copolymer, the observed increase is always greater than the
actual amount added, e.g. up to 13{\%} error. This could be due to the fact
that the homopolymer ionizes more efficiently than the low MW copolymer. A
model to improve the accuracy of the calculated amount of homopolymer in the
blend is discussed.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2008.MAR.C1.45